Happy Thanksgiving! I find it beneficial to take time, not only in November, to give thanks for all we have, but throughout the year. This past year has been one filled with anxious moments for many living in the United States. Some individuals have had to worry about if their homes would survive hurricanes, tornados and floods. While others have worried about landing a job, finding medical assistance or just making enough money to buy food.
Some of us know of individuals who have directly suffered this year from many of the hardships mentioned above, but luckily none of us here at Kirby Pines have directly had to deal with these hardships. We should all be very thankful that our individual problems have been small in comparison to so many. Sometimes we need reminders that Thanksgiving isn’t just a meal with family and friends.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all things that are a part of our lives, whether good or bad. Thanksgiving is a time for us to act thankful. Therefore, this year when you celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving, whether with family or friends, take a moment to simply say thank you to the people in your life. After all, isn’t that what we should be most thankful for? So, thank you for a wonderful year here at Kirby Pines, and enjoy the blessed Thanksgiving.
On April 5, 1936, a devastating tornado destroyed the home of the Callaway family in Tupelo, Mississippi. That tornado 78 years ago leveled 48 blocks and killed 200 people, injuring many more. Five-year-old Gene Callaway, along with his mother and brother, were trapped under debris and exposed to rain, thunder, and lightning for 30 minutes before being rescued. Fortunately for those of us at Kirby Pines and the world, Gene Callaway survived to become a prolific and famous artist.
Eugene Craven Callaway was born December 23, 1931, in Tupelo, Mississippi. His father worked for the TVA in East Tennessee and his mother was a homemaker for Gene and his brother in Tupelo. During the summer the boys, along with their mother, traveled with their father.
Following the destruction of their home, Gene’s father rebuilt and the family remained there until 1980. Gene finished high school and came to Memphis to enter business school. To avoid being drafted into the Army, Gene volunteered for the Air Force and was sent to Korea as an Adjutant’s secretary.
While stationed in the states, he attended Kansas City Junior College and Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Upon leaving the Air Force, Gene entered Memphis State University, receiving a Bachelors in Business. He was hired as an accountant by Ford Motor Company, but lacking seniority, he became unemployed when the company moved to Ohio. He re-entered Memphis State and received his Masters in Educational Administration. Following eight years of teaching at Kingsbury High School, Gene was promoted to Principal and served at White Station High School, Bethel Grove, and Cromwell Elementary Schools.
As a teenager Gene, being musically inclined, learned to play the piano and played for the Wesley Methodist Church. He also became interested in family history and genealogy becoming a charter member of the Callaway Family Association, Inc. Since 1975 he has served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President and President from 1993- 96. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Confederacy, Clan McLeod Society and the Tennessee Genealogical Society.
Upon retirement, Gene became an accomplished artist, ballroom and tap dancer and is known as “Twinkle Toes” Callaway by his friends. Portraiture became his love. His expertise led him to his acceptance into the art world. He was a member of the Memphis-Germantown Art League, the Bartlett Art Association and has exhibited his works in many shows. Currently, his paintings are in private collections internationally, museums, churches, and the Callaway Archives, Lagrange, Georgia.
Sara Bennett Callaway was born in New Albany, Mississippi in 1941. Her father was a farmer and business owner and her mother was a homemaker. She has one sister. During high school, Sara played varsity sports, playing basketball for four years. Even then, Sara was elected most dignified and best dressed! After graduating from Blue Mountain College, she began a teaching career at Grand Junction High School. While there she enrolled at Memphis State and received her Masters in Education and Guidance Certification. She then served the Hardeman County School System as Guidance Supervisor. Later, she became a Certified Counselor with the Memphis City School System.
Their Wedding Day 1967
Following a New Year’s Eve blind date, Sara became “smitten” with the rising, young principal, Eugene Callaway. They were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1967, and became parents to one daughter, Sara Elizabeth Callaway, now deceased. Following her daughter’s death, Sara became interested in duplicate bridge, traveling to bridge tournaments all over the South. She achieved the level of Life Master and beyond. To this day, bridge is her passion. The passion has given her the opportunity to meet many bridge greats such as Omar Shariff. Sara’s past hobby was crewel embroidery, English smocking, and needlepoint.
Upon retirement Sara has served in many volunteer organizations including Friends of the Orpheum, Stage Set Theater Memphis, where she served on the Board of Directors, The Callaway Family Association, serving as the newsletter director, the Salvation Army, and Church Health Center. For years she served with the 20/20 Vision Screening Center of Emmanuel Methodist Church. Sara and Gene have retained their membership at EMC since 1968. Gene has six paintings hung there.
One of Gene’s Paintings at Kirby Pines
In August of 2017, the Callaways moved from Germantown to Kirby Pines. Gene’s artistic and musical talents are greatly appreciated. His warm smile and gentle personality invite a warm reception. Sara has many talents and life experiences. Her beautiful styling and warm disposition make for an impressive image.
Both Sara and Gene are true assets for our family at Kirby Pines.
Osteoarthritis is a disease of the cartilage in joints. Osteoarthritis causes progressive breakdown of cartilage until the bones, which were once separated by cartilage, rub against each other. This results in damage to the tissue and underlying bone, causing the painful joint symptoms of osteoarthritis.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis results from chemical changes in the cartilage that causes it to breakdown faster than it can be produced. In most cases, the cause of this cartilage breakdown is unknown. In a few people, there seems to be a link between cartilage breakdown and other factors, including injury to a joint and a family history of osteoarthritis.
Can Osteoarthritis Be Prevented?
Steps can be taken to help control the symptoms or to help prevent the progression of osteoarthritis. These include:
Weight control
Injury prevention
Exercise
What Are The Symptoms?
Pain most often in the spine, hands, hips, knees, and feet
Stiffness after inactivity that lasts less than 1 hour
Limited motion in joints
Tenderness and occasional swelling
Deformity of the joints
Crackling or “creaking” of the joints, usually painless.
Why Is It Important To Exercise When I have Osteoarthritis?
Joints and muscles need to be exercised to prevent stiffness and weakness. Also, exercise will make you feel better and help you maintain a healthy weight. Excess body weight places extra force and pressure on arthritic joints and causes osteoarthritis to progress more rapidly. Exercising will not “wear out” a damaged joint. Without exercise, not only will muscle strength be lost but osteoarthritis will progress faster. Stretching and strengthening exercises will help strengthen the muscles and ligaments surrounding a joint, which in turn will protect and reduce stress on the joint.
Please join us on October 17th at 1:30 pm in the PAC for our Smart Moves presentation on this topic.
Everybody knows exercise may improve your physic and health, but did you know that 15 minutes may save your emotional well-being.
“Exercise is one of the easiest and most effective ways of improving both your physical and mental health. A little regular exercise can ease depression and anxiety, boost energy and mood, and relieve stress. But you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to reap the benefits. No matter your age or fitness level, there are lots of enjoyable ways to use physical activity to help you feel better, look better, and enjoy life more.”
When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain and trigger a positive feeling in the body, Kirby Pines presently offers a variety of opportunities for exercises that have proven to relieve stress and improve emotional health. These are just a few:
Tai Chi: Tai chi is an exercise that was derived from Chinese martial arts and focuses on being fully in touch with the present. It is sometimes called “meditation in motion” and is an excellent way to leave the worries of the day behind. Tai Chi is offered here on Monday afternoon at 2:00 in the Large Card Room.
Walking: one of the most popular forms of exercise requires very little in the way of equipment and can fit into any schedule. At Kirby Pines, we have more than a mile of beautifully landscaped walking trails and miles of inside walking. A Walk with Ease class is well underway and will be offered again in the spring.
Dancing: While many people do not think of dancing when considering stress relieving exercises, it does, in fact, give you a physical workout while improving agility and coordination. The social aspect of dancing helps in improving mental and emotional well-being while learning new steps exercises the brain as well. Check into our line dancing group that meets Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday afternoons in the PAC.
Water Aerobics: If you have issues that prohibit some other forms of exercise, water aerobics may be just the thing you need. Chest deep water takes 90% of your weight off your joints. Usually practiced with a group with similar physical needs, this stress-relieving activity has both social and meditative aspects that will calm the nerves.
Yoga Stretch: Balance and mobility are two key benefits for yoga. A series of deep breaths and time for meditation help participants feel restored and relaxed by the end of class. Our class here at Kirby includes standing and seated positions. No floor or mat poses are involved. Each pose is chosen with safety and beneficial stretching in mind to increase your mobility. Next time you “don’t feel like it,” remember that a walk or exercise class may be just what the doctor ordered to help you feel better about yourself.
After celebrating our thirty-fifth anniversary in grand style last month, and our twelfth consecutive winning of the Memphis Most Award for the Best Retirement Community, it is time to reflect on why Kirby Pines is continually selected the Memphis retirement community of choice, and to think about what is ahead that will keep us the best in Memphis.
We will start the month off with a huge city-wide celebration of our 12th Memphis Most win, on Wednesday, October 3rd from 11 am to 1 pm with great food, fun prizes, and fabulous entertainment. Be certain to invite some friends who have not yet made their decision to move into Memphis’ Most award-winning retirement community!
Then on Tuesday, October 16th between 4 and 6 pm you can enjoy the beautiful grounds as we once again hold a Fall Festival complete with Hot Air Balloon rides. This is a very popular festival and one in which you might be able to check off one of “your bucket list” wishes by enjoying an aerial view of the campus in a hot air balloon.
If great food is more to your liking, be certain to sign up early for this month’s Night of Exquisite Cuisine. Always a popular feast, residents, and guests fill the Iris and Tradition dining rooms to full capacity as they enjoy a spectacular meal prepared by one or both of our Cordon Bleu graduate chefs.
October 28th is National Make a Difference Day, and we all have the ability to do something small that makes a difference in someone else’s life. You can volunteer here at Kirby Pines to assist someone in one of the four healthcare areas; or in the Blossom Shop; Library; by assisting the marketing team welcoming new residents; or simply by thanking the staff who help make Kirby Pines the Best Retirement Community in our tristate area!
Do you remember the Baseball World Series of 1941. It was an unforgettable contest between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees. Let’s revisit that time.
The Yankees won the first game of the series by a score of 3-2. Brooklyn returned the favor in the 2nd game with a score of 3-2. The Yankees took the third game 2-1. In the 4th game, the Dodgers were ahead 4-3 at the top of the 9th inning and looked like they would tie the series. The Yankees had two outs and Tommy Henrich was at bat with three balls and 2 strikes. Henrich swung at the next pitch but missed the ball. This should have ended the game, but the Dodger catcher, Mickey Owen, dropped the ball. It hit the heel of his mitt and rolled toward the Dodgers dugout. Henrich ran to first base before Owen could retrieve the ball. Next at bat was ‘Joltin Joe’ DiMaggio. The Yankees scored four runs in the final inning and won the game 7-4. This gave them a 3-1 lead in the series. The next day in game 5 the Yankees beat the Dodgers 3-1 and won the 1941 Baseball World Series. Some attribute the Yankee win and the Dodger loss to that moment when Mickey Owen dropped the ball. Though he lived to 2005 he could never get away from that fatal mistake in the 1941 World Series. The New York Times obituary was titled, “Mickey Owen dies at 89, Allowed Fateful Passed Ball.” Even in his death he could not escape the results of his 1941 game 4 error.
Some trace the origin of the phrase “dropped the ball” to Mickey and this event.
Often we are all like Mickey Owen. How many dropped balls have been a part of our experience. Mistakes, though unintentional, have had damaging results. Sometimes it has been less monumental. Other times it has been catastrophic. It has been the difference between winning and losing. In some instances, the difference between life and death.
Our actions are vitally important? An opportunity comes…and goes…because we drop the ball. A relationship, once so special, falls apart because we drop the ball. A life-changing step is never taken because we drop the ball. Someone needing our help is disappointed because we drop the ball.
Financially, career-wise, relational and in many other areas we can easily drop the ball. It’s also true in the spiritual realm. Look at the story in Matthew 22:35-40, “Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” Jesus was paraphrasing the words from the Jewish Torah. When we consider His challenge it must be evident that we all have dropped the ball.
There is time to correct our great mistake. Admit our failure, get back in the game and play with God-given energy what lies before us. We never know when our series may end so let’s be all that God wants us to be. We can begin now to be more focused, to be on top of our actions, and to hold onto the ball when it comes our way.
The words of Hebrews 12:2 can guide us: “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily entraps us, and let us run with patience the race before us.”
Starting or maintaining a regular exercise routine can be a challenge as you get older. You may feel discouraged by illness, ongoing health problems, or concerns about injuries or falls. Or, if you’ve never exercised before, you may not know where to begin. Or perhaps you think you’re too old or frail, or that exercise is boring or simply not for you.
While these may seem like good reasons to slow down and take it easy as you age, they’re actually even better reasons to get moving. Exercise can energize your mood, relieve stress, help you manage symptoms of illness and pain, and improve your overall sense of well-being. In fact, exercise is the key to staying strong, energetic, and healthy as you get older. And it can even be fun, too.
No matter your age or your current physical condition, you can benefit from exercise. Reaping the rewards of exercise doesn’t require strenuous workouts or trips to the gym. It’s about adding more movement and activity to your life, even in small ways. Whether you are generally healthy or are managing an illness – even if you’re housebound – there are many easy ways to get your body moving and improve your health. {Excerpts from HELPGUIDE.org}
We are here to help. The Oasis is always open. Our equipment is user-friendly and more instruction is available if you need it. We offer exercise classes five days a week as well as line dancing. We have more than two miles of hallways and over a mile of landscaped trails outside for walking.
Our Walk with Ease program is back for the fall session; a great opportunity to begin an exercise program. Register now for the class, we will limit the class size to 15. This is what the class can do for you: Improved balance, strength, and endurance. If you have been out of the exercise habit and desire to get back, and you can walk 10 minutes, or if you are looking for an enjoyable way to exercise, this class may be for you. Register with Lavada in the Activities Office or Mary in the Oasis. Our first class begins Tuesday, September 11 at 1:30 pm in the Arts & Crafts room, and runs for 9 weeks. “Graduates” are welcome, bring a friend. Make plans to join us in September.
Juanita Smith (née Radcliff) was crowned Miss Wayne County of West Virginia, twice during her years of high school. Today, 87 years later, that same beauty, the sparkling eyes and the beautiful smile is still seen when looking into the face of Juanita, now 101 years old! If not for the effects of a recent stroke, one could expect to see Juanita do the Charleston, the dance she became famous for after moving to Kirby Pines.
Juanita is as beautiful now as she was back then.
On this, the 35th anniversary of Kirby Pines Estates, we celebrate the life of Juanita Smith who has lived at Kirby Pines longer than any other resident – 29 and a half years! Having good genes (her father lived to be 102) has no doubt been a factor in her longevity. However, she exemplifies the research that individuals living in a retirement setting tend to live longer. Juanita’s eyes light up when she remembers the good times she has had while living at Kirby Pines. While her husband Charles was living, the couple captured the dance floor as they reportedly were the best Charleston dancing couple in Memphis, or, maybe the world. She enjoyed teaching other residents how to “hula-hoop”. She also enjoyed line dancing, Tai Chi, all kinds of games, the puzzle table and most of all just socializing with her friends.
Juanita and her husband, Charles, moved to Memphis in 1984 to be near their daughter, Linda. They made the decision to move to Kirby Pines in February, 1989 and entrenched themselves in the activities of Kirby Pines. They placed their church membership at Central Church.
So, what was life like for Juanita, growing up in a small community of West Virginia? Born on October 10, 1916, Juanita was one of nine children. She remembers her childhood as a happy time although times were difficult for the family. Work was scarce but her father was able to find three to four days of work each week on the railroad. Her mother canned all summer and Juanita remembers her favorite was the pickled corn and the sauerkraut available in the winter months. Her mother was a loving and compassionate person, always setting up a table on the back porch and placing food there for the “hobos”. Christmas was always a big event. All nine children received a gift, the girls always getting a doll with “a big, hard head”.
After finishing high school in 1934, Juanita worked briefly in a dime store and a beauty parlor. However, her father insisted she live at home and discouraged her working outside the home.
Charles and Juanita in the fall of 1987
On April 14, 1938, Juanita married Charles Smith. Charles worked as a presser in a glass factory. West Virginia is well known for its “glass houses” and beautiful glassware. A year later, Juanita gave birth to her only child, Linda. Juanita’s lifetime career centered around being a mother and homemaker.
Today Juanita Smith resides in the Gallery Manor at Kirby Pines. Her husband, Charles, died in 2007. Her daughter, Linda Sprague lives in Memphis in another retirement community. In addition, Juanita has two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Her grandson Jonathan and his wife Connie, visit Juanita often.
Juanita loves to have company and reminisce about the good times at Kirby Pines. She enjoys all of the entertainment programs that are provided in The Manor. She especially looks forward to the visits of her great-grandchildren from Florida.
Hopefully, we will all remember the important date of October 10, 2018, when the big 102 will be celebrated!
As we get older, the deterioration of the mind and body is unavoidable. It’s just part of the aging process. Some people, however, experience more severe symptoms of aging than others do. No matter how healthy your body is, your mind can still begin to have those “senior moments.” If you want to keep your mind healthy as you age, you have to keep it active. For seniors, staying active can not only help to prolong life, but it can offer a better quality of life as well. With exercise, the two go hand-in-hand. Whether you want to become more physically active or more mentally active, staying active, in general, will help both your body and mind feel energized and engaged.
Here are a couple ways to keep your mind and body active. Move your body. As mentioned before, exercising is not only good for your body, but for your mind as well. Exercise is a social activity for many, especially with all of the group exercises that are provided. This helps one stay motivated and engaged in the activity. Exercise also improves your mood by releasing mood-boosting endorphins, which can help lessen the feelings of depression. Exercise increases mental capacity, and physical activity has been directly linked to slowing the process of mental decline. When you are physically active, every part of your body, including the brain, receives more blood flow. Blood flow encourages cell growth. Exercise also improves healing. The healing process takes longer as we age, but exercise can help. Active adults have wounds that heal as much as 25 percent faster than those who do not exercise.
Eat well. Proper nutrition is incredibly important for seniors, for both physical and mental health. If you’re not eating enough of the proper vitamins and minerals, the lack of nutrients can affect brain function. If you’re not eating enough calories, you will have less energy with which to use your body and brain. Make sure you eat well – healthy and regularly. Engage your senses. Using all of your senses really helps exercise your brain in a variety of different ways, so try to use all your senses as much as possible. Stop to smell the flowers – literally – or try to pick out the ingredients of food by their smell.
Keep learning. You’re never too old to learn. Learning new things will help keep your mind active and sharp. Challenge your brain. Challenging your brain is extremely important to keep a sharp mind. Instead of just learning, you should also be challenging yourself to exercise your knowledge and problem-solving skills. Sleep well. For people at any age, sleep is essential for proper mental functioning. Be sure to get enough sleep at night, and make sure it’s quality sleep, too.
As you can see, there are plenty of simple ways to keep your mind and body active. It is interesting to know that the body and mind go hand and hand. Now as you exercise or do any of the activities above you know that you are keeping your mind and body active.
For our 35th Anniversary, we asked our residents to tell us what they love most about Kirby Pines.
The response was tremendous, so take a look and see what your neighbors have to say about your community!
I love the feeling of family and having many good friends, however, I love most of all the opportunity to re-invent myself through all the various activities available at Kirby Pines.”
– Joan D.
From the minute I moved into Kirby Pines it became a very special home to me.”
– Nita H.
I love Kirby Pines because of the wonderful people here, staff & residents.”
– Patty R.
I love the feelings of safety and security as I enter the gates, knowing that I am among those who care about me.”
– Gail W.
As new residents we have found lots to love about Kirby Pines- the beautiful lake and green space, the social activities, Friday night music in the lobby, security; but most of all the people, the staff and residents who are kind and caring making Kirby Pines a wonderful community.”
– Walter & Sandra O.
I love Kirby Pines as its employees are friendly, warm, pleasant, good-natured, offering a variety of activities, good food making, it’s a great place to live!”
– Bob F.
I love mealtime. The food is delicious. I don’t have to cook or clean up. We get to enjoy the company of others.”
– Marilyn M.
I love the comfortable feeling of home with security and friendships, medical care, activities and excellent food and dining service.”
– Nell M.
Kirby Pines, a sister community of The Farms at Bailey Station, is part of the family of LifeCare Communities of Retirement Companies of America. For more information, visit retirementcompanies.com
Financially, career-wise, relational and in many other areas we can easily drop the ball. It’s also true in the spiritual realm. Look at the story in Matthew 22:35-40, “Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” Jesus was paraphrasing the words from the Jewish Torah. When we consider His challenge it must be evident that we all have dropped the ball.
Here are a couple ways to keep your mind and body active. 
Eat well
Keep learning
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